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Hey girl, what’s in your suitcase? Glad you asked! Have a peek at my ultimate Disney World packing list. I should note we love a road trip and usually drive to Disney World. This gives us a bit more space flexibility than if we are flying. I think this list works for both, you just need to tailor it suit any luggage constraints.

Clothes – Let’s talk attire. What to wear at Disney World comes down to personal preference. More than likely it will be hot, and you’ll get wet. You should plan to wear clothes you know you find comfortable. For me that means a lot of dresses. I find them to be pleasant, breezy and cool. I will note, with skirts/dresses, you may want to be mindful of length. Shorter lengths can be challenging to for getting in and out of low attractions such as Test Track in Epcot. I will wear tanks and shorts too. Andy prefers shorts and sleeveless tees. He’ll wear t-shirts sometimes, but he’s usually happier in the men’s tanks. More athletic style wear helps to wick away sweat and moisture, and could be worth considering. But it’s all about what you think you’ll feel best in when it’s hot and humid. Plan for plenty of clothes! You may find yourself wanting to change during the day. We do! It’s amazing how refreshed it can make you feel.

Shoes – You will be walking. For miles, and miles, and miles. If you’re new to Disney World the amount of steps you take may surprise you. One of the things I SWEAR BY to keep my feet fresh is switching up my shoe game. I try not wear the same pair of shoes more than 2 days in a row. I recommend allotting a little extra suitcase space and bringing 2-4 pairs of shoes that you love. My favorite park shoes are Olukai Ohana flip flops. My husband likes those and Rainbows. I prefer to have my feet open, not enslaved in socks and shoes. Even still I will also wear a shoe like classic Keds, Converse Chuck Taylors, Toms, Vans, or a moderate athletic shoe every couple of days to keep my feet fresh. My parents are more comfortable in athletic shoes like Aasics or Nikes. My mom is trying out a pair of Allbirds this trip. You do you! But I do advise several pairs, and ones you have broken in, that you know are comfortable. Your trip to Disney world is not the time to experiment. Trust me on that.

Sunglasses – Obvious. I also like to bring an extra pair – just in case!

Hat – I love to wear a hat in Disney World. It may seem anti-intuitive to put something on your head in the heat, but a hat (especially a fedora or wide-brimmed hat) helps to keep your face and neck shaded. I’m usually in a straw fedora.

Sunscreen – Choose your favorite and keep it at hand. It’s nice to have both lotion/spray and a stick for your face.

After Sun Lotion – I do my best to keep sunscreen/hat on to avoid need of this. But I believe that re-hydrating my skin after a day of Florida sun goes a long way to ward off burn and irritation. This is hands down my favorite post-sun lotion.

Ponchos – It’s probable you’ll encounter rain on your trip. Fortunately it doesn’t usually last long! In the summer months especially, a small storm or shower will pass through and then move along. Keeping a poncho with you to stay dry is really great. I find it miserable to get rained on and then walk around in hot, damp clothes waiting for them to dry in the Florida humidity.

Waterproof Mascara – Let’s talk make-up ladies. I don’t tend to wear a lot of make-up in Disney World. It’s hot, you sweat, and it just doesn’t hold. However, I don’t like to go anywhere without mascara. In Disney World I highly recommend switching to a waterproof mascara. (I’m giving this one a go this trip.) Between sweat, water elements, misters, pool time, it saves the day by keeping black from running down your face. The other thing I usually wear is a tinted moisturizer/sunscreen combo. It evens skin tone without being heavy.

Makeup Removal Wipes – Waterproof mascara is stubborn these help with removal before a face wash. They’re also great for cleaning your face before/after a trip to the pool.

Gold Bond/Glide – Hubby discovered the need for this on our honeymoon. This helps keep chaffing at bay. Gold bond makes a small travel bottle that would be perfect for the park bag to keep things fresh.

Portable External Charger – Disney World has a way of draining your cellphone battery. You use it to snap photos, check wait times, order food, and of course check in on social media. There are charging stations throughout Disney World, but I prefer to charge on the go. Something like this external charger (or this) is inexpensive, small, and lightweight. Perfect to slip in your park bag and juice up your phones when needed. Also don’t forget chargers and cables for any other electronics you’ll be packing.

Hand Sanitizer – Lots of people in Walt Disney World. A little hand sanitizer is handy in helping keep germs at bay when you’re on the go in the parks. Bath & Body works makes cute ones that clip on your bag to be at the ready.

Brita water bottles – *TIP* You can get a free cup of ice water in any counter service location at Disney World. Awesome. But when you’re thirsty in line, that doesn’t help. Purchasing bottled water in the parks adds up quickly. We like to bring filtered water bottles into the parks with us. The water at Disney World doesn’t taste all that great. (It’s gross, actually.) But these filtered water bottles take care of that so you can refill at any fountain and stay happily hydrated without breaking the bank.

Lysol spray – I touched on this in my last post. I like to have this on hand in the hotel to spray down surfaces to kick the germs. This is great to do with your park bag when you get back to the hotel too.

Clorox Wipes – I love Clorox Wipes. They’re handy for messes and sanitizing. What’s not to love?

Laundry Bag/Pop-up Hamper – It’s much nicer to be in a clean & tidy space. Providing a spot for your dirty clothes keeps the aesthetic a bit nicer and the mess down. All Disney hotels have a laundry facility. Should you chose to clean a load of clothes on a pool day, it makes dealing with that much easier.

Mickey/Character Gear – This may be a bit redundant, but don’t forget your favorite Disney shirt/watch/shoes/hat etc.

Swimsuit/Coverup – Disney World hotels have GREAT themed pools, most with water-slides and other bells and whistles. I wholeheartedly suggest you take advantage of them on your trip. Nowadays Disney has controlled hours of their pools with locked gates. But, when I was little my mom used to get up early and take me swimming before we hit the parks. I love those memories. There is also Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach if you want to hit a Disney water park. Disney provides the towels. Wahoo! You can skip packing those.

Ziploc Bags – These are useful for a multitude of things. I especially love them for holding wet clothes/items or to keep wet OFF of certain things. Don’t want your sunscreen to explode in your bag? Ziploc. Boom!

Laundry Pods – I usually pack a tupperwear container with 3-4 of these because I often end up doing a load or two of laundry. They don’t take up much space and it’s much cheaper than buying from your Disney hotel.

Tide To Go – This snazzy little “pen” is perfect for the hotel or park bag to keep any Mickey Premium Bar, ketchup, or the like from permanently staining clothes.

Lightweight sweater/sweatshirt – OK, now I know what you’re thinking. “This woman has lost her mind. She’s been doing nothing but talking about the heat and now she’s saying pack a sweatshirt?!” I won’t be dragging one around the park, but the air conditioning can be chilly inside in Disney World. Especially if you’re wet from the pool\/sweat. In the evening post swim or what not it can be nice to toss on. I also like to make this a gift shop purchase from the resort where I’m staying. I have a zip sweatshirt from Animal Kingdom Lodge that I just adore and a pull-on hoodie from Wilderness Lodge that put me in the Disney state of mind in the winter.

Snacks – I’m not huge on bringing food to Disney World, especially into the parks. It’s a great way to save cash, but I love to eat Disney chow when I’m there. It’s part of the experience. That being said, it’s nice to have a couple of your favorite options on hand in your hotel room. (And in your park bag for hangry if you have kids… or yourself…) If you’re considering bringing your own food/beverages into the parks just remember – no alcohol or glass is allowed. And be sure to bring things that aren’t going to melt on you.

Band-Aids + Neosporin – At times, despite our best efforts to wear our most wonderful shoes, we end up with blisters. Having these already packed is lifesaving. I especially like to have Band-Aid Hydro Seal Blister Heels in my bag in addition to an assortment of (Disney themed, of course!) regular Band-Aids.

Motrin IB/Advil/Tylenol – Whatever your favorite OTC pain reliever is, I would bring it along and keep it on you to fend off headaches and the like. I’d like to note that all of Disney’s parks have a great First Aid station where you can get bandages, ice packs, and OTC medications if you’re in need. (Hopefully you’ll have no need though!)

Cash – We never carry cash so I have make a note to get some before trips. (Perhaps I am speaking out of turn, but I find that younger generations frequently don’t carry it.) Making sure to have a cash allotment for tipping and whatnot is wise. There’s a safe in all Disney hotel rooms to stash any surplus or other valuables you may wish to secure.

Park Bag – You need a bag to take into the parks. Something comfortable and not too big! (Post on this upcoming!)

Glow bracelets – You can pick these up at your local dollar store or Target and they make a great special touch at night in the parks.

That’s it for my major hitters! Don’t forget the other things to pack that are more travel-general and less park-specific:

Chargers

Toiletries: nail trimmers, nail file, toothbrush, toothpaste & floss, face wash, moisturizer, deodorant (please!), razor etc.,

Make-up

Comb, brush, styling products, hair ties, headbands, bobby pins, etc.

ID, Insurance cards, discount cards, etc.

Feminine products

Looking to theme out your luggage? shopDisney has you covered with options.

Did I forget anything?!? Let me know in the comments below.

See ya real soon!

  What’s in my suitcase? My ULTIMATE Disney World packing list. Hey girl, what's in your suitcase? Glad you asked! Have a peek at my ultimate Disney World packing list.

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The List... My WDW Vacation Prep Struggle

The List… My WDW Vacation Prep Struggle

Guys, I have a confession. I’m struggling! Normally I am so organized, excited, and filled with the planning spirit when I have an upcoming Walt Disney World trip. For me, the preparation is half of the fun. But I’m having a hard time with this upcoming trip.

We are so busy. Life is good, but life is full. And this fullness is overwhelming my ability to think about this trip, let a lone plan.…

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The Delicate Art of Disney Dining Decisions

The Delicate Art of Disney Dining Decisions

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Snacks, snacks, snacks!!! Oh the plethora of culinary options. While there are definitely snacks I think you should make a point to hunt down at WDW, and quick service options I recommend over others, only your table service meals really need planing. We usually have 1 table service a day, and typically it’s dinner. This is for a couple of reasons: Mornings are the best…

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I just need a minute...

I just need a minute…

… to get up on my soapbox. And speak about Disney’s latest announcement regarding parking. I get these impulses with Disney. Like in 2013 when Disney turned the Main Street Bakery into a Starbucks. Sigh. While I love having coffee readily available on Main Street U.S.A., I would much rather they had chosen Joffrey’s – with whom they already have a working relationship. We ❤ Joffrey’s and their…

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A New Chapter

Disney World is a part of my life. It holds a lot of real estate in my core memory. As a child I was fortunate to have my family take us every couple of years. We bonded through imagination and adventure. In my college sophomore year I joined the Disney College Program for 8 months. Working at Walt Disney World I fortified friendships with people across the country and around the world. When I…

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Radio Silence

It’s been radio silence, for quite a long while…   But we are up and at ’em. And we are busy writing about all the Disney World things we love. Plus we will be filling the pages with news and updates. So stay tuned! See ya real soon!

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For me and hubs, Magic Kingdom and Epcot are like peanut butter and jelly. Both awesome on their own, but put ’em together and BOOM! – a perfect pairing.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, Epcot is my husbands favorite park. I love Magic Kingdom and Epcot pretty equally, but for separate reasons. Magic Kingdom is nostalgic, full of wonderful aromas and attractions. Epcot offers adventure and excellent and abundant dining. Conveniently linked by the monorail, getting from one park to the other is easy and enjoyable. Going to both parks in one day also saves us the “argument” of which park to visit first on our trip.

So on our third day, the alarm buzzed at 6:30, we each grabbed a quick shower, enjoyed apple with almond butter and granola on the balcony, and were on our way to Contemporary Grounds for depth chargers by 7:00ish. We walked over to MK and passed through security and the turnstiles just as the opening show was wrapping up.

We walked straight back to Fantasyland and walked on to the virtually empty “Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid.” Our luck continued when we were able to walk onto “its a small world.” Next we went across to Peter Pan’s Flight. The standby queue was 35 minutes, which for Peter Pan, isn’t bad. Disney recently redid the standby queue to feel like you walk through the Darlings’ house. I CAN NOT rave about this enough! It is so awesome! If you spot Peter Pan’s Flight with a 30ish minute standby – go! You’ll enjoy your time in the queue as much – if not more – than the attraction itself. Post Peter Pan our streak continued with no wait into Mickey’s PhilarMagic and finding a 15 minute wait at The Haunted Mansion. (This kind of morning is why I think waking up early and taking advantage of early hours is the way to go.)

Cinderella’s stepsisters and stepmother delighting guests out in the open.

A quiet morning in the back of Fantasyland.

Hubs

Peter Pan’s Flight queue

Peter Pan’s Flight queue

Peter Pan’s Flight queue

How hubby feels about it’s a small world…

Mickey’s PhilarMagic

Leaving Haunted Mansion we stopped off at Sleepy Hollow and split a waffle filled with Nutella and fruit. So good. With our bellies full we headed back to Adventureland and walked right into the Enchanted Tiki Room.

At this point, though we were clearly on a roll, we decided to walk back to Bay Lake Tower for a break. We didn’t have any Fastpass+ reservations until later and our dinner reservations were fairly late at Epcot, so we thought breaking earlier in the day made sense. After returning to Bay Lake Tower, we both worked out (the Contemporary has a small, but awesome gym), we showered and went to the Contemporary’s Contempo Cafe for lunch. We got on the Monorail and were on our way back to MK to use our FastPass+ reservations for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. Next we spun ourselves silly in a teacup at Mad Tea Party and then cooled off with this delicious raspberry lemonade slush from the neighboring Cheshire Cafe. We did a little people watching at the Casey Jr. Splash n’ Soak Station outside of Dumbo while we waited for our final FastPass+ reservation at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We’ve only experienced this attraction a couple of times, but it really is fun and adorable. I will say this about it: I spotted a lot of hats and a couple cell phones lost from the ride. Stash ’em away people. Think of how silly (furious) you’re going to feel to be out your iphone because you wanted a selfie.

At this point we felt like we’d had a really great first day at MK and so we hopped the Monorail over to Epcot to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening.

After passing through the gates, we had planned to head directly to the World Showcase to spend the evening, but Spaceship Earth had very small standby time that we couldn’t resist. After a glimpse at our future we ambled to the World Showcase to roam and kicked off with a beer in Germany. Prost!

We had dinner reservations at Via Napoli in Italy. This was our first visit to Via Napoli and we loved it! Everything was delicious and the ambience is light and airy. It was simultaneously a cozy spot for a romantic dinner and a relaxed family environment. We would definitely dine there again, and I don’t hesitate in recommending it.

Post dinner we felt full and content, and decided to head home to Bay Lake Tower for a little swim and balcony relaxing. We caught a beautiful sunset on the way back that was the beautiful cap on a beautiful day.

    June 2015: Day 3 Magic Kingdon & Epcot For me and hubs, Magic Kingdom and Epcot are like peanut butter and jelly. Both awesome on their own, but put 'em together and…

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On our June 2015 trip our first park day was Animal Kingdom. We have no traditions about beginning with one park over the other. Generally, we follow the Extra Magic Hours calendar when planning our days. It happened that Animal Kingdom opened early that day, so that’s where we went.

I can tell you our alarm went off at 6:20, aka early o’clock. By 7:00 we were on our way to Contemporary Grounds for Depth Chargers. Armed with caffeine we headed to the bus stop, where we didn’t wait long. We got to Animal Kingdom and through security before 8:00 am. I say this practically every time I blog, getting up early may be a pain, but the payoff is worth it when you’re through the ticket line and onto your favorite attraction right at the start of the day.

At 8:00 we were in queue for Expedition Everest. We waited a few short minutes before we climbed aboard. I love to start a day with a roller coaster. Hubby does not feel this way, but he’s a trooper who mostly indulges my fancies.

After Expedition Everest we made our way to Kilimanjaro Safaris. The park was cool and uncrowded in the morning – really pleasant. We took our time walking, stopping to snap pictures. I think Animal Kingdom has an incredible amount of atmosphere and I love to just take in all of the scenery detail. We didn’t have much of a wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris, and we had a good ride. We spotted lots of animals, but my favorite of that trek was a baby rhino. The exit of Kilimanjaro Safaris spits you out right at the entrance for the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. This is a great place to scope gorillas. The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail also features a really awesome bat display that was closed for refurbishment when we were there. Upon leaving the Pangani Trail we headed to the new Harambe Market to check it out. We also poked our head into the new Zuri’s Sweets Shop. Zuri’s had nut mixes and plenty to satisfy sugar cravings, including adorable animal sugar cookies and fun animal themed candy apples.

  After that fairly leisurely morning we decided to hunt down the Dawa Bar. This is a really sweet spot to grab a drink, cool off, and take in the atmosphere. If you’re into bloody marys, Dawa Bar has you covered with a killer bloody mary menu. Though they looked awesome, neither hubby or I are big bloody mary people, so he had a St. George beer and I had a class of Fair Valley Chenin Blanc. The bar was uncrowded, our bartender was awesome, and we could see and hear the African Drummers street performance from our perch. Though we wanted to linger here we had Fastpasses for Expedition Everest at 11:35, so we headed back to Asia for our second pass at the Yeti, and scored front car seats. Did I mention I love roller coasters? We followed up by walking the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Tigers are one of the main attractions on the Trek, but we didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of them. Though we didn’t see tigers, we did see an incredible array of exotic birds in the aviary. One bird in particular must have been very fond of hubby because he deposited a load of poo on hubby’s brand-new fedora. Fortunately I had some wipes in our backpack and we had a good laugh about it as we cleaned up the, um, gift. Everyone loves souvenirs, right??

At this point we were both in the mood for some chow. Normally Flame Tree BBQ is our go-to Animal Kingdom lunch spot. It’s so tasty. However, it was being refurbished, so we decided to go back to Harambe Market. It was kind of a zoo, no pun intended. Lines were long and slow moving. Table seating was at a super premium. Hubby and I split up the task. I ordered food and he scouted for a table. We both ordered a chicken skewer that came with a broccoli, tomato, red onion salad. We both had a milk tart for dessert. The chicken was delicious, especially the bbq sauce that was on the side. We both enjoyed having a healthy lunch that day. It was worth the wait.

After lunch we made our way to DinoLand U.S.A. to use our 1:05 Fastpasses for Primeval Whirl, followed by 2:15 Fastpasses for Dinosaur. We left DinoLand in pursuit of the 3:00 Finding Nemo the Musical show. I love this show. It runs about 40 minutes and outside of its great music and beautiful costumes, it’s an excellent way to cool off and get out of the sun.

After Finding Nemo the Musical we decided to forgo It’s Tough to Be a Bug, which was the only attraction we had left on our list. We elected instead to head back to the Dawa Bar to wait out the interval before our Tusker House reservation with a refreshment. (Tusker House is located right behind Dawa Bar.) The bar had really picked up traffic since our late morning visit. We met some really cool people while perched on a bar stool. I find that Disney World is an awesome place to converse with people, whether at the bar, or just in a queue.

When our time came for Tusker House, we got right in and ushered to a table. Tusker House is a buffet character dining experience. Neither of us had dined there before and we enjoyed having a new experience. The buffet was varied, including familiar and more exotic flavors that had Indian and Asian influence. We managed to see Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy who were all dressed for safari.

  Tusker House Buffet

Cornbread was delish.

Tusker House decor

Muscle men

Aw, shucks.

Wish I had those lashes!

Both hubby and I agreed on an early night for our first day in the park. So with our bellies full of grub we left Animal Kingdom to head back to Bay Lake Tower. We managed to get in a  good swim with a few water slide runs before returning to our balcony for another evening of fireworks. All in all, a pretty perfect 1st park day.

June 2015 Trip Report Day 2, Animal Kingdom On our June 2015 trip our first park day was Animal Kingdom. We have no traditions about beginning with one park over the other.

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All Hail the Depth Charger…

(and just coffee in general)

Once upon a time coffee was not something easily acquired at Walt Disney World. Primarily what you could find, unless you went on a specified hunt, was Nescafe instant coffee. Nescafe instant coffee? –  I don’t consider that coffee. Coffee must be from roasted beans, ground, and freshly brewed into wonderful, hot, dark liquid nectar of the gods.

Kermit has coffee with dessert at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom

Fortunately, those dark and dreary days of the Nescafe Instant Coffee monarchy are over and long gone. For better or worse, each park and Disney Springs now hosts a Starbucks. Say what you will about it, there is now coffee in every park. Starbucks is not the only game in town either. In fact, they are just the minor leagues. Most WDW coffee is from Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. (based in Tampa). They provide 100% Specialty Arabica Bean Coffee to Disney Parks and Disney Hotels. I am happy to say that this is the coffee you find in your hotel room, in WDW restuarants, and many stand locations throughout the parks. Actually, most restaurants have a Joffrey’s blend custom-made especially for them. (On Joffrey’s website you can view and purchase some for the comfort of your home!) Some hotels, such as the Contemporary, also have a Joffrey’s Coffee bar.

Hubby and I are both coffee addicts enthusiasts. We never start a day without it. And despite heat, we do not forgo the coffee ritual in WDW or hubby (and occasionally myself) are less pleasant and tolerable. On our June 2015 trip, every morning, before boarding the bus/monorail, we walked next door to the Contemporary’s lobby to hit Contemporary Grounds, a Joffrey’s Coffee bar. There we met and fell in love with the Depth Charger. What is a Depth Charger? A a cup of holy goodness going by the recipe of one shot of espresso drowning in a cup of coffee. I believe Starbucks calls these “red eyes.” I am sure there are many other names for it.

Contemporary Grounds offers freshly brewed coffee, cappuccino and espresso drinks, and a few pastries. Pastry selections include giant donuts that boast bright pink or chocolate frosting topped with sprinkles. We never purchased any baked goods to go with our coffee, but they looked delicious. Depth Chargers were not on the coffee menu, but the very charming barista kindly obliged my husband when he asked our first day if she could make it. After that, each morning we simply said “2 Depth Chargers please,” and they were delivered with a smile.

Because coffee is now so widely available in the parks you don’t have to feel pressed to grab it at the hotel before you leave. If Starbucks is your jam, head to Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom, Fountain View at Epcot, Trolley Car Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Creature Comforst at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Joffrey’s coffee stands are sprinkled throughout the parks, which is particularly nice in Epcot and Animal Kingdom that cover so much area.

Here are a few of the places you can locate Joffrey’s Coffee in the parks:

Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center

Epcot World Showcase between UK and Canada

Epcot Monorail Station

Epcot Outside of Test Track

Epcot World Showcase America

Epcot World Showcase Entrance near Disney Traders

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Pixar Place Entrance

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror Exit

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Entrace

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Asia, near Kali River Rapids

Blizzard Beach, near Polar Park

Blizzard beach, near Lottawatta Lodge

Typhoon Lagoon, near Let’s Go Slurpin’

Typhoon Lagoon Donut Cart

Disney Springs, Marketplace across from World of Disney

Disney Springs, 40 Thirst Street

Cheers!

  WDW Coffee Talk All Hail the Depth Charger... (and just coffee in general) Once upon a time coffee was…

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June 2015 Trip Report, Day 1, Part 2

June 2015 Trip Report, Day 1, Part 2

Schedule “Unplanned” Time! I believe in planning for your WDW vacation. I believe in making dining reservations 180 days out and I believe in making your FastPass+ reservations 60 days out. I believe in changing your mind and changing your plans as your trip gets closer and during your trip if necessary. I like to make the most of my time, and personally I think you need to plan a little to make…

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There is nothing like the first day of your WDW vacation. You arrive, out of your mind excited delighted, and the entire trip stretches out in front of you. Everything is fresh, everything is there waiting for you to experience it.

We drove into Walt Disney World from Savannah and landed on Walt Disney World property around 1 p.m. We had not yet gotten the text from WDW letting us know that our room was ready. Unfazed, we drove straight through the Magic Kingdom gate toward Bay Lake Tower. We figured even if our room wasn’t ready until 4 (normal check-in time) we could park the car and make our way to Disney Springs for some lunch and shopping. However, as if by magic, as we turned into the Bay Lake Tower (BLT) entrance, my phone buzzed and the text our room was ready flashed on my screen.

We parked the car and headed straight to our room. When you check in online you can bypass the desk and go straight to your room and your magic bands will grant you access. This is where we hit one of the only hangups of our trip. After taking the elevators up to our room, toting luggage behind us, we found our Magic Bands would not grant us room access. I left hubby with the bags outside the room and went back down to the front desk with both of our Magic Bands. A few minutes of computer coaxing from a cast member, I went back upstairs and we waltzed right into our room. You know from my last post how much we adored our room and Bay Lake Tower!

We brought all of our luggage up, ogled the room and our balcony view, briefly freshened up, and headed to the bus stop to catch the Downtown Disney bus. Our luck continued and the bus arrived after only a minute on the bench.

Upon arrival at Disney Springs we were starving, and food received top priority. We went straight to Earl of Sandwich. It completely hit the spot. Both of us had our eye on the Chipotle Chicken Avacado and Hawaiian BBQ chicken, so we ordered each and so we could go halfsies. We got a pager to let us know when our sandwiches were ready and sought out seating on the shaded patio. We had a great view of the splash zone outside of the World of Disney store. Our sandwiches were every bit as delicious as we’d hoped. With bellies no longer grumbling of hunger we went exploring.

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outdoor seating

view from Earl of Sandwich side patio

As Downtown Disney was rapidly transitioning into Disney Springs, we found new signs, sidewalks, walkways, stores, and restaurants everywhere. There are plenty of old time favorites such as House of Blues, Bongos, Basin, Lego store, and World of Disney. But new delights were everywhere. Our favorite retail spot was Cherry Tree Lane, which housed many little shops with Disney merchandise for everyone. (Including Disney Dooney & Bourke for me! Though I didn’t buy any this trip…) I also love me some Basin, a store full of soapy delights. And you’d better believe I took my time sniffing and smelling all kinds of soaps, shampoos, scrubs, body butters, bath bombs … Ahhhhh.

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Doony & Bourke, anyone?

Basin

Basin

Basin

After all of that shopping we were thirsty! I mean, it’s hot ya know? And nothing says “cool off” like a margarita. We spotted the new Dockside Margarita and headed that direction. This little spot has take out windows, a bar, and a side patio with some sweet lounge furniture. While we were there a musician with a guitar also kept us entertained. A very nice touch, especially paired with the stunning lake views.

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Hello friend.

Choices!

His & Hers

mmm.

Ok, you gotta have water too.

Part of the view behind Dockside Margaritas.

Happy.

Told ya the view was good.

After our margarita adventures we did a bit more shop meandering and soon decided we were ready to head back to Bay Lake Tower. Our prior luck with the bus had definitely run out at this point. The queue for our bus was a mess. And the bus took plenty of time to find its way to us. The longer we waited, the more people began to crowd. People start to get this look in their eye as they shifted their weight around nervously. Silent “we were here first, and we are getting on that bus and making our way to a seat” looks begin to go out. No words were exchanged or fights broke out, but it wasn’t a pretty, happy, or magical experience with all of that irritated energy. This is the kind of time where you chose to either be a grump or just go with the flow. It all worked out, everyone got on the bus.

After arriving back to Bay Lake Tower we continued to explore the hotel and of course, test out the pool. One of the cool things about Bay Lake Tower is its proximity to the Contemporary. After a swim at BLT’s pool and a run (or two, or five) down its waterslide we decided to test it against the Contemporary waterslide. So we grabbed our towels and took the short merry stroll over to the Contemporary and took a run or two down its waterslide. Both, as a matter of point, are excellent. The waterslide at the Contemporary seemed like it had a bit more speed, but the slide at BLT has a bit more curve action.

After our swim we were both pretty tired ready for a shower and dinner. We made a great choice to spend our arrival day just being mellow and enjoying the hotel. Traveling in had already zapped our energy levels and so hanging out was the way to go. We also were planning to hit the parks hard the following day, so resting up beforehand was wise. If you have the luxury of time, this is the way I recommend beginning your vacation.

Besides, our evening hanging out at BLT ended up being one of the best of our trip. But more on that next post… TTFN!

June 2015 Trip Report Day 1, Part 1 There is nothing like the first day of your WDW vacation. You arrive, out of your mind excited…

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On our 2015 June trip we called Bay Lake Tower, or BLT, home. When first reading about Bay Lake Tower and seeing its acronym of BLT I put off. A BLT is my favorite summer sandwich of bacon, lettuce, and tomato. However, after a bit of soul searching I found there is room in my heart for BLT to stand for Bay Lake Tower AND bacon, lettuce and tomato. After all, both are wonderful.

BLT is a DVC resort, so it is a bit different from other WDW hotels. (More on that momentarily.) One of Bay Lake Tower’s major appeals is its proximity to the Magic Kingdom. MK is just a short, pleasant stroll away. Because of this BLT often has guests that are not DVC members. The price is high, and you have to be willing to pay, and some do shell out to be close to Magic Kingdom. In fact, Many of BLT’s rooms offer stunning views of Magic Kingdom. This is particularly charming at night as it offers you a view of Wishes, Magic Kingdom’s fireworks spectacular, right from your room. Fireworks in pajamas with no crowds? Not bad, eh?

Being a DVC resort, rooms at BLT are either Deluxe Studios (sleeps 4 adults), One Bedroom Villas (sleeps 5 adults), or Two Bedroom Villas (sleeps 9 adults). Studios include a kitchenette and single bathroom. One Bedroom Villas offer a full kitchen, one bedroom and one bathroom. Two Bedroom Villas offer a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Studios, One, and Two Bedroom Villas all come with a choice of theme park view, lake view, or standard view. Standard views are anything level 4 and below. Lake views offer bits of Bay Lake (which may also include the pool), and theme park views offer a view of Magic Kingdom.

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Looking down from our balcony

We stayed in a Lake View Deluxe Studio. We were situated in a room that faced the Contemporary, where we could view its pool, and watch the Monorails come and go. We could watch the boats sweep across the lake in front of the Grand Floridian. And in the distance, we could see Epcot’s Spaceship Earth and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror. We could see the hot air balloon rise up from Downtown Disney. At night we were able to watch the fireworks of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from our balcony, as well as the Electric Light Parade. We could even see bits of Magic Kingdom if we leaned forward and peered to the right. (A move for adults only, obviously.) We loved our view. It was varied and wonderful. We spent as much time as possible just enjoying the scenery from our balcony. If we were to go back, we’d be more than happy to have the same room and view all over again.

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Husband doing his Photography thing.

Kitchenette

Kitchenette

One thing that is important to understand about staying at Bay Lake Tower is that it essentially functions as a branch of Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel. In fact, BLT is  connected to The Contemporary via a Sky Bridge on the 5th floor. Because Bay Lake Tower is a DVC resort it does not have the usual plethora of amenities Disney Hotels usually boast. Not to worry! The Sky Bridge connection to The Contemporary his allows you ready access to its restaurants, bars, shops, room service, and Monorail access.  BLT and the Contemporary also share a bus stop, which is located between the two hotels.

While you need to walk to the Contemporary for use of a gym, restaurants, or bars, Bay Lake Tower does have wonderful outdoor recreation. There is a pool with a winding water slide, a kid splash area, and a whirlpool. The pool bar, named Cove Bar, offers up beer, wine, tropical cocktails, and an assortment of snacks. In an outdoor area in front of the pool entrance there are games set up such as corn hole, shuffleboard, and ping pong tables.

If for some reason you are unsatisfied with BLT’s outdoor offerings, you also can take the very short stroll to use The Contemporary’s pool. (We did for a water slide showdown! And in case you’re wondering – both are great. BLT’s is more twisting, whereas the Contemporary’s is more dipping with speed.)

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View looking up at the BLT water slide.

Tunnel under the BLT water slide

View of pool at night from the 14th floor.

This was our first time to stay at Bay Lake Tower, though we have spent just one night at The Contemporary. Bay Lake Tower is less themed than most other WDW hotels. For us, that was fine. We liked the minimal, contemporary feel. I think it would be less exciting for kids, but then again, you’re right next to the Magic Kingdom and that has its appeal. In fact, one day when walking on the Sky Bridge I saw a dad carrying a little dude about 2. He spotted Cinderella Castle in the distance and started saying “Dad! Dad!! I see Disney World! I see Disney World!!” Little man was pumped. It was awfully cute.

So, do we recommend it? Should you stay here? This I can only answer with, “well, it depends.” As I may have mentioned before, my parents are Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members. Since my parents are also awesome, they shared their points with us for this last trip. Otherwise, because of the cost, Bay Lake Tower would not be anywhere within our reach. If you are a DVC member, I absolutely 100% recommend it. We would be thrilled to stay there again. If you’re not a DVC member, then my recommendation comes less readily. If being close to Magic Kingdom is worth the cost to you – BLT is a wonderful experience. If, however, the idea of shelling out that kind of cash for a hotel makes you squirm – stay somewhere else. (On Walt Disney World’s property, of course!) While Bay Lake Tower was an amazing experience, other deluxe or moderate resorts make for better ways to spend your hard earned cash in equal comfort.

Bay Lake Tower Review On our 2015 June trip we called Bay Lake Tower, or BLT, home. When first reading about Bay Lake Tower and seeing its acronym of BLT I put off.

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2015 Trip Preview... Or, Kermit's Many Adventures

2015 Trip Preview… Or, Kermit’s Many Adventures

Hi-ho, Kermit the Frog here! And there, and everywhere in Walt Disney World on our June 2015 vacation. We had a truly wonderful trip and I’ve been very anxious to tell you all about it!  After we got home I was feeling pretty good… for about a day. Then a serious case of the Post WDW Vacation Blues set in. You know, where ordinary life seems kinda dull and flavorless compared to life in “the…

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Disney's Hollywood Studios Can't Miss List

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Can’t Miss List

Glitz and glamor. Action and adventure. Disney’s Hollywood Studios gives you old school Hollywood paired with thrills.There is much to love about this park – starting with its charm. Right when you walk into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and stroll down Hollywood Boulevard you’re transported to the golden era of Hollywood. No matter your age or what you like to do, you’ll find something of interest…

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Can't Miss List

Many years ago when Disney’s Animal Kingdom (or DAK for efficiency’s sake) first opened, I didn’t love it. I adore animals and you’d think my outlook would’ve better. But it wasn’t. However, as often with first impressions – my opinion has altered since my first look. I found my liking of DAK increased with each visit. It’s such a beautiful park; the landscaping is exotic. When I was working on…

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The Epcot "Can't Miss" List

The Epcot “Can’t Miss” List

This blog post is brought to you by… yet another snow day. March has settled in and I think everyone is longing for spring. Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival started up yesterday. If I close my eyes and wish really hard, do you think I could transport myself there among the topiaries, special outdoor kitchens, and illuminated nighttime gardens?

Nope, I don’t think so either.

At…

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The Magic Kingdom "Can't Miss" List

The Magic Kingdom “Can’t Miss” List

Sometimes, when we are in the car, Hubs and I play a game where we propose hypothetical scenarios and we ask the other to respond. Usually it goes something like this:

Husband: “We’ve just arrived at Disney World! Where are we going first?” Me: “Hmmmm… I’m feeling Epcot today.” Husband: “Excellent selection. What is the first thing we are going to do?” Me: “Straight up classic – Spaceship Earth.”

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